Video: The REAL Reason John Carpenter’s THE THING Was a Box Office Flop in 1982
John Carpenter’s horror/sci-fi masterpiece The Thing turned 38 years old earlier this week, making it a popular subject for retrospectives. While it’s still lauded as one of the most terrifying tales of alien interference ever committed to film, The Thing was a box office flop when it was released in 1982.
Related Article: This Day in Horror History: John Carpenter’s THE THING Was Unleashed in 1982
Many have hypothesized that it was Steven Speilberg’s E.T.: The Extraterrestrial that tanked The Thing, suggesting Carpenter’s brutal body horror was regarded as antithetical to the family-friendly blockbuster. But the YouTubers at Hidden Histories have their own theory–one that carries surprising weight.
Could the real reason The Thing bombed be because Carpenter ignored the source material? Give Hidden Histories’ video a spin below to see if you agree.
Video Description:
John Carpenter’s The Thing is considered a classic today – but in 1982 when it was released it was both a critical and financial failure. The reason why is very plain to see – but it is never talked about. We here at Hidden Histories chose to make a video about the reason why.
In case it wasn’t obvious–it’s a joke! Obviously, The Thing is not a Fantastic Four movie. Still, many horror fans are unaware that Carpenter’s The Thing is a remake of The Thing from Another World, released in 1951.
Synopsis:
In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.
Are you a fan of John Carpenter’s The Thing? What do you think of the video by Hidden Histories? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
